Ganahl, a meteorologist for WCMH-TV (Channel 4), hasn’t worked since early December, when he
learned that he has congestive heart failure.

He hopes to return to the air on Jan. 20.

After some tests on Dec. 12 at OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, his heart failed for
several minutes, Ganahl said.

“I was gone,” the 65-year-old said yesterday from Iowa, where he is visiting relatives.

“I was purple, not breathing, and my eyes were fixed.”

His daughter, Lindsey Sabakinas, yelled for help.

Doctors revived him, and he spent the next week in intensive care.

Ganahl had gained 90 pounds in the months preceding his heart failure, he said, and suffered
shortness of breath.

“Those are classic signs of congestive heart failure, but I didn’t realize it at the time,” he
said. “(Channel 4 anchors) Cabot (Rea) and Colleen (Marshall) kept telling me I looked awful, but I
kept trying to work.”